Ida Clark DePriest facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ida Clark DePriest
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | 1869  Kansas |
| Died | August 1938 (aged 68–69) |
| Occupation | Suffragist |
Ida Clark DePriest (born 1869, died 1938) was an important African-American woman. She was a suffragist, which means she worked for women's right to vote. She was also an activist and a clubwoman, known for her work in Colorado.
Contents
Biography
Early Life and Family
Ida Clark was born in Kansas around 1869. Her mother was Mary Ellen Clark. She had one brother named Duff. Ida grew up in Colorado. She finished Denver High School in 1889.
In 1891, she married Richard K. DePriest, who was a painter. They had a son named Claude H. DePriest around 1895.
Working for Women's Rights
Ida C. DePriest spent her life working for political change. She helped women in Colorado register to vote and learn about elections. Women in Colorado gained the right to vote in 1893.
She worked with Elizabeth Piper Ensley to start the Colored Women's Republican Club of Colorado. This club helped elect Joseph H. Stuart, a black lawyer, to the Colorado State Legislature in 1894.
Club Work and Leadership
From 1895 to 1896, DePriest was the Corresponding Secretary for the Woman's League of Denver. This group was part of the State Association of Colored Women's Clubs. In 1895, DePriest was also chosen as Vice President of the Colorado State Republican League. She often held club meetings at her home.
In October 1895, DePriest and Lizzie Olden went to a big meeting in Colorado Springs. It was the first yearly meeting of the Colorado Federation of Women's Clubs. They were the only two black delegates from the Denver Women's League. DePriest gave a speech about popular books. The women at the meeting liked her presentation very much.
Focus on Education
DePriest also cared a lot about education. She helped start the Colored Women's League of Denver in 1894. This group was a local chapter of the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs (NACW). Its goal was to offer schooling and social help to African American children. The club followed the NACW's motto: "Lifting as We Climb."
In August 1911, DePriest attended a meeting in Denver. It was the National Negro Educational Congress. She went as a delegate, representing her community.
Later Life and Legacy
DePriest worked as a clerk for the Colorado Secretary of State. She left this job in 1909. Later, she worked as a maid at The Denver Dry Goods Company.
Even with different jobs, DePriest stayed active in women's clubs in Colorado. In 1916, she worked for Denver's Election Commissioner. Her job was to register voters before the presidential election.
DePriest passed away in August 1938. She spent her last years in California with her son. She is buried in Riverside Cemetery in Denver.
